‘Huge cloud of smoke’: Cybertruck explosion outside Trump hotel probed as possible terrorist act - What we know so far

A Tesla Cybertruck explosion and fire outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday are being investigated as a possible act of terrorism, according to law enforcement officials. The incident has raised significant concerns due to its timing and proximity to another attack in New Orleans.
The incident
The fire was reported at 8:40 am local time. When emergency crews arrived, the 2024 Cybertruck was fully engulfed in flames. Authorities confirmed that one individual inside the vehicle was killed, although their identity remains unknown. Seven others sustained minor injuries from the explosion, Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a news conference.

Video shared online shows the vehicle consumed by smoke as firefighters battled the flames. Surveillance footage reveals the truck passing the Trump Hotel an hour before the explosion, circling back, and stopping in front of the hotel before detonating seconds later.

Explosives found in the vehicle
Officials disclosed that the truck contained fireworks, gas tanks, and camping fuel. These items were reportedly connected to a detonation system believed to have been controlled by the driver. The vehicle was rented through the car-sharing platform Turo.
Authorities are investigating potential links to an earlier attack in New Orleans, where a rented truck was used to ram into a crowd, killing 10 people and injuring dozens. However, no direct connection has been established between the two incidents.
Statements from officials
Jeremy Schwartz, acting special agent in charge of the FBI in Las Vegas, confirmed his team is involved in the investigation, saying, “We are treating this as a possible act of terrorism until more evidence is gathered.”
Sheriff McMahill acknowledged the heightened concerns due to the location and nature of the incident. “A Cybertruck, the Trump Hotel—there’s lots of questions we have to answer as we move forward,” he said.
Responses from key figures
Tesla CEO Elon Musk addressed the incident on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “We have confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself.”

Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization, expressed gratitude to first responders and emphasized the safety of hotel guests and staff, calling it “our top priority.”
Eyewitness accounts
Galit Ventura Rozen, a guest at a nearby hotel, described the scene as chaotic. “We saw a huge cloud of smoke … and a line of at least three ambulances and a bunch of police cars,” she said. Guests from the Trump Hotel were later seen gathered in a nearby parking lot.
Ongoing investigation
Law enforcement is actively searching for any secondary devices and remains vigilant about potential threats to the community. Sheriff McMahill assured the public that there is no immediate danger but said the investigation is far from over.
Key facts